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Microsoft released its most recent desktop operating system (OS), Windows Vista, months ago. And yet Palm's synchronization application for the Palm OS, the Palm Desktop, has not fully supported the no-longer-so-new desktop platform ... until now.

Palm has just released a public beta of the Palm Desktop 6.2, along with HotSync Manager 7, for Windows Vista. Both shouldn't be run on Windows XP or 2000 systems.

To enable Windows Vista compatibility, Palm had to drop a few features from the Palm Desktop. These include Palm's handy Quick Install software, which speeds along and eases file transfers and application installs. Also, you can't sync e-mail with Palm's VersaMail application.

Palm Desktop 6.2 does add support for Outlook 2007 Calendar, Contacts, Tasks and Notes synchronization, however.

Available directly from Palm here, Palm Desktop 6.2 is only compatible with the Treo 755p, 700p, 680 and 650 smartphones, in addition to the Palm TX, Z22 and Tungsten E2 handhelds. It isn't for other Palm devices, such as the Tungsten T5, LifeDrive or Treo 600.

In addition to emphasizing that this version of the Palm Desktop is only intended for Windows Vista, Palm says you must uninstall old versions of Palm Desktop and HotSync Manager prior to installing this beta version.